Make sure to go over the first activity in this lesson, ‘Long Vowel Digraph Team’, so readers can predict the pronunciation of the vowel in long vowel digraph team syllable words.
RETURN
Activity: Sort & Read
Standards
Distinguish magic e and long vowel digraph team patterns when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.
Reader Goals
I can recognize magic e and long vowel digraph team syllable types.
Target Words
• VCe: pile, wave, gale, -cides, take, rake, tame
• VV: leaf, float, tree, blow, each, know, leap, heap, feet, treat, day-, -dream, play, way, east, say, least, cease, beast
• Pattern Breaker: move, come
Helpful Hints
Guide
- Say
We are going to apply what we learned about the long vowel digraph teams in this lesson. Let’s review what we have learned so far. We will compare the long vowel digraph team syllable pattern with the magic e syllable pattern. Both patterns signal a long vowel pronunciation. - Point to the picture on the left and Ask
What do we call the syllable pattern VCe?
(magic e syllable pattern) - Point to the picture on the right and Ask
What do we call the syllable pattern VV?
(long vowel digraph team syllable) - Ask
Which syllable pattern makes the long vowel sound?
(both)
They both make the long vowel sound. But in which syllable pattern can you see two vowels next to each other?
(long vowel digraph team syllable)
How do you recognize a magic e syllable?
(It has a VCe pattern with a silent e after the consonant.) - Say
Let’s sort some words by their syllable patterns. This will help you pronounce the vowel to read more unfamiliar words. It will also help you to spell words with long vowel sounds.
Guide
- Say
Now we’re going to read a poem that has lots of closed, magic e, and long vowel digraph team syllable pattern words. Let’s focus on comparing the long vowel digraph team syllable words to the magic e syllable words from the poem. We will sort words by the two patterns. - Point to the headers as you Say
We have two headers, so let’s name them.
First, I see the Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe) pattern, the magic e syllable. The small letter e at the end of the pattern reminds us that it is silent. The silent e is there to signal to us the long vowel pronunciation of the vowel before the consonant.
And I see the Vowel-Vowel (VV) pattern, the long vowel digraph team syllable. In this syllable pattern where two vowels are right next to each other, the first vowel makes its long sound but the second one is silent.
When a word looks like one of the syllable patterns but has an unexpected pronunciation, we’ll put it in the gray area: It means it’s a pattern breaker. - Say
Now let’s look at each stanza in the poem and sort the highlighted words. - Read and Say
The title of the poem is A Leaf Pile on the Move.
Let’s look at the words leaf, pile, and move more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word leaf. - Point to the word leaf and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /lēf/.
(/lēf/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word leaf?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word leaf?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word pile. - Point to the word pile and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels i and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /pīl/.
(/pīl/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ī/ in the word pile?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. Remember that the e is silent and it is there to signal the pronunciation of the other vowel that comes before the consonant. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word pile?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word move. - Point to the word move and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels O and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /mo͞ov/.
(/mo͞ov/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word move?
(no) - Say
I hear the /o͞o/ sound in the word move, so it does not fit the pattern. We will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do the next lines of the poem. - Read and Say
The very last leaf I watch
float down from the tree.
It lands on a pile of them next to me.
Let’s look at the words float and tree more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word float. - Point to the word float and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels O and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /flōt/.
(/flōt/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ō/ in the word float?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word float?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word tree. - Point to the word tree and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /chrē/.
(/chrē/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word tree?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word tree?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do the next lines of the poem. - Read and Say
If the wind should come and blow
each leaf will scatter
that I know.
Let’s look at the words come, blow, each, and know more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word come. - Point to the word come and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels O and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /kəm/.
(/kəm/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word come?
(no) - Say
I hear the /ə/ sound in the word come, so it does not fit the pattern. We will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word blow. - Point to the word blow and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels O and W)
Notice that the letter W is usually a consonant, but it can team up with another vowel and function as part of a vowel team.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /blō/.
(/blō/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ō/ in the word blow?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word blow?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word each. - Point to the word each and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /ēch/.
(/ēch/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word each?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word each?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word know. - Point to the word know and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels O and W)
Remember the letter W can function as part of a vowel team.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /nō/.
(/nō/)
Notice that there is a silent letter K before the letter N. Whenever you see the letters KN, the letter K is silent.
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ō/ in the word know?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word know?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do the next lines of the poem. - Read and Say
But what if I should make a leap
into the leaves,
into the heap
I could wave my arms
and kick my feet.
To sink into the leaves
would be such a treat.
Let’s look at the words leap, heap, wave, feet, and treat more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word leap. - Point to the word leap and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /lēp/.
(/lēp/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word leap?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word leap?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word heap. - Point to the word heap and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /hēp/.
(/hēp/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word heap?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word heap?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word wave. - Point to the word wave and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /wāv/.
(/wāv/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word wave?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word wave?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word feet. - Point to the word feet and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /fēt/.
(/fēt/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word feet?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word feet?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word treat. - Point to the word treat and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /chrēt/.
(/chrēt/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word treat?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word treat?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do the lines of the poem. - Read and Say
As I daydream of how I would play
a gale force wind comes my way.
I watch the leaves fly west and east-
all over my yard to say the least.
Let’s look at the words daydream, play, gale, way, east, say, and least more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the syllable day– in the compound word daydream. A compound word is a word that is made up of two other words. - Point to the syllable -day and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this syllable?
(2)
What are the vowels in this syllable?
(vowels A and Y)
Remember the letter Y can be a consonant at the beginning of a word or syllable, but it is a vowel when it comes at the end of a word or syllable. It functions as part of a long vowel team with another vowel such as the vowels A, E, or O.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /dā/.
(/dā/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the syllable -day? Is the second vowel silent?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the syllable -day?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the syllable -dream in the compound word daydream. - Point to the syllable -dream and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this syllable?
(2)
What are the vowels in this syllable?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /jrēm/.
(/jrēm/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the syllable –dream?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the syllable -dream?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word play. - Point to the word play and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and Y)
Remember the letter Y can function as part of a vowel team.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /plā/.
(/plā/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word play?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word play?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word gale. A gale is a very strong wind. - Point to the word gale and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /gāl/.
(/gāl/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word gale?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word gale?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word way. - Point to the word way and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and Y)
Remember the letter Y can function as part of a vowel team.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /wā/.
(/wā/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word way?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word way?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word east. East is a direction. - Point to the word east and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /ēst/.
(/ēst/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word east?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word east?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word say. - Point to the word say and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and Y)
Remember the letter Y can function as part of a vowel team.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /sā/.
(/sā/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word say?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word say?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word least. - Point to the word least and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /lēst/.
(/lēst/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word least?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word least?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do the last lines of the poem. - Read and Say
And when the wind decides to cease
I take up my rake to tame this beast.
Let’s look at the words decides, cease, take, rake, tame, and beast more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
First I will divide the word decides into syllables de/cides. I recognize the first syllable is open. It is pronounced as /dē/.
So let’s sort the syllable -cides in the word decides. - Point to the syllable -cides and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this syllable?
(2)
What are the vowels in this syllable?
(vowels i and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /sīdz/.
(/sīdz/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ī/ in the syllable -cides?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the syllable -cides?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word cease. Cease means to stop. So the line of the poem means if the wind should stop. - Point to the word cease and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(3)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E, A, and E)
There are three vowels in this word. But the last vowel e is there because we don’t typically end a word in English with a single letter s unless it is an inflectional ending. If there is a short vowel, we would double the s; but in a word with a long vowel sound, we add a final silent e.
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /cēs/.
(/cēs/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word cease?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word cease?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word take. - Point to the word take and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /tāk/.
(/tāk/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word take?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word take?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word rake. - Point to the word rake and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /rāk/.
(/rāk/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word rake?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word rake?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word tame. - Point to the word tame and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels A and E)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VCe)
Then this could be the magic e syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /tām/.
(/tām/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ā/ in the word tame?
(yes) - Say
When you see the pattern VCe, the vowel e signals the other vowel to say its long sound. We identify this as a magic e syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word tame?
(It will go under the header VCe.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word beast. - Point to the word beast and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(2)
What are the vowels in this word?
(vowels E and A)
Which pattern do you see? Is it VCe or VV?
(VV)
Then this could be the long vowel digraph team syllable. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /bēst/.
(/bēst/)
Did you hear the long sound of the first vowel /ē/ in the word beast?
(yes) - Say
When you see the long vowel pattern VV, it can signal the first vowel to say its long sound and the second vowel to be silent. We identify this as a long vowel digraph team syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word beast?
(It will go under the header VV.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s review the words from the poem we just sorted. - Point to and Read the words in the VCe column with readers: Say
The magic e syllable words have the long vowel sound: pile, wave, gale, -cides, take, rake, tame. - Point to and Read the words in the VV column with readers: Say
The long vowel digraph team syllable words have the long sound of the first vowel: leaf, float, tree, blow, each, know, leap, heap, feet, treat, day–, -dream play, way, east, say, least, cease, beast - Point to and Read the pattern breakers with readers: Say
These words have the VCe pattern but do not fit the pattern when it comes to the pronunciation: move, come.
Guide
- Say
Now that we know how to pronounce the long vowel digraph team syllable words in the poem, we can read it together! - Read together, have readers repeat after you read each line (my turn, your turn), or have them read on their own. Practice reading until they can read it fluently.
